Fang Wanrong covered her face and sobbed, “Why? Why? I just want a child. Why must heaven treat me like this?”
“Why!”
Of course, Fang Wanrong knew the reason Sheng Xinhao had left.
But what could she do?
She just wanted a child, that was all.
Fang Manping, who had just returned home, witnessed the scene from the doorway.
If this had happened in the past, she would have rushed in to comfort her mother.
But now…
Fang Manping hesitated.
She knew what her mother had been doing lately.
Frantically seeking out doctors who could help her conceive, taking countless medicines.
Yet, nothing had worked.
Her recent behavior had become almost obsessive.
Even her stepfather was now afraid of her.
Thinking back to her mother’s words—”I just want a child”—
So, in her mother’s eyes, was she not her child?
Had her mother never considered her as someone to rely on?
Tears streamed down Fang Manping’s face, her eyes filled with confusion.
Before, she had lived only to earn her mother’s love and attention, striving to become her pride and support.
But that had only been her wishful thinking.
Her mother had never seen it that way.
So… should she give up now?
If her mother had already abandoned her, then she wouldn’t hold onto false hope anymore.
Perhaps… it was time to live for herself!
Fang Wanrong, still sitting on the floor crying in the living room, had no idea she was pushing her only daughter further away.
Her mind was still occupied with thoughts of those useless doctors.
None of the medicines had worked.
No, she had to keep searching.
There had to be a doctor out there who could help her conceive again!
Fang Wanrong raised her head, her eyes filled with determination and ambition.
…
The arrival of November meant the New Year was approaching.
Originally, Gu Jianing had planned to return to her hometown for the Spring Festival, but heavy snow had blocked the roads.
With the trains halted due to the snow, travel was impossible.
So, Gu Jianing had no choice but to spend the holiday in the Northwest Military District again.
Still, this year was different from the last.
The previous year, it had been just her and Sheng Zexi.
But now, there were two more children, along with Grandma Sang and Grandpa Sang.
Yes, Grandpa Sang had taken the train to the Northwest Military District to celebrate the New Year with them.
His reasoning was perfectly justified:
“I finally finished my mission and have some time off. At my age, I deserve a proper break!”
“You’ve been in the Northwest for so long—I missed you!”
“Not just you, but my two great-grandchildren too! Come here, Xingxing and Yueyue, let Great-Grandpa hold you!”
Grandpa Sang had wanted to visit for a long time. Now that he finally had the chance, he wasn’t going to miss it.
As for how long he’d stay? That was up to him.
Xingxing and Yueyue weren’t the least bit shy around Grandpa Sang and quickly warmed up to him.
These two children had always been acutely perceptive of people’s intentions.
Sensing Grandpa Sang’s kindness, they naturally took to him.
With so many people around this year, the Spring Festival didn’t feel so lonely after all.
However, even though she couldn’t return, Gu Jianing had prepared many gifts for the Gu family, all packed into a parcel.
On New Year’s Eve, the Gu family happened to receive this package.
There were gifts for everyone.
For Old Man Gu, there was a brand-new military coat, while Yao Chunhua received a woolen overcoat, along with other items.
The elderly couple put on their new clothes, their eyes reddening as they thought of their daughter and grandchildren far away in the northwest.
Their longing overflowed from their gaze.
“Originally, Ningning planned to bring her husband and the two children back, but the heavy snow blocked the roads, and the trains couldn’t run.”
Last year, she couldn’t come. This year, she couldn’t either.
Year after year passed like this.
Who knew how long it would be before they could see her again?
“At least you got to visit her in the Northwest Military District. I haven’t even seen her once,” Old Man Gu said, his tone tinged with bitterness.
Yao Chunhua looked at her husband and sighed inwardly.
How could she not know how much he missed their daughter? They shared the same bed, after all.
Her husband had always doted on Ningning the most.
And he was a man of deep emotions.
Yao Chunhua had lost count of how many times her husband’s eyes had reddened when talking about their daughter after she got married.
Sometimes, he even dreamed of her and woke up crying quietly when he realized she wasn’t there.
Children were truly a lifetime of debt!
They were forever their parents’ deepest worry.
“Alright, alright, there’s nothing we can do if our daughter can’t come back.”
“At least we know she’s happy. That’s enough.”
Meanwhile, far away in the northwest, Gu Jianing was being dragged out by Sheng Zexi to set off small fireworks.
Gu Jianing held a sparkler, while the two children, bundled up tightly in their stroller, clapped their hands with shining eyes.
They even let out little excited babbles.
“Do you want to play too? No, you’re still too little—you might hurt yourselves. You can’t play yet.”
“When you’re a bit older, we’ll let you try.”
“For now, let Mommy play for you.”
As Gu Jianing waved the sparkler and teased the children, a smile finally appeared on her face.
Seeing this, Sheng Zexi quietly let out a sigh of relief.
He knew that, though his wife hadn’t said anything, she must have been missing her family back in Huaihua Village.
Sheng Zexi truly wished he could take her back.
But natural disasters were beyond his control.
So, he could only do his best to cheer her up. Earlier, he had even carefully instructed the children to “make Mommy happy.”
He wasn’t sure if they understood, but they were cooperating beautifully now.
And Ningning was happy again.
They played for a long time before realizing the two children had fallen asleep in the stroller.
Sheng Zexi carefully wheeled them into the house.
Then, he carried them to the heated brick bed, tucking them in gently.
Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang, being older, couldn’t stay up late for the New Year’s Eve vigil and had gone to bed early.
Now, the only ones still awake in the courtyard were Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing.
Gu Jianing waited for Sheng Zexi to return after putting the children to bed.
When he came back, he was holding a small box, which he handed to her.
“What’s this?”
“A New Year’s gift.”
A New Year’s gift?
Gu Jianing remembered that last year, Sheng Zexi had also given her a birthday present—a beautiful hairpin.
What would it be this time?
She opened the box and saw, under the starlight, a delicate floral hairpin glimmering inside.
She loved it at first sight.
“You’re giving me another hairpin?” Gu Jianing asked with a smile.
“Because you love them the most. When I saw this one, I knew you’d like it, so I bought it.”
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